When the Dallas Cowboys opened training camp on Wednesday, coach Jason Garrett said quarterback Tony Romo would be full go when practices began.

Two days later, with Romo missing the afternoon practice on Friday, Garrett acknowledged that the plan all along with was to be mindful of Romo's December back surgery and to bring him along slowly early in camp. Romo watched Friday’s afternoon practice in street clothes.

"We talked about this beforehand with all of our players. Whenever they are coming back, to be mindful of the two-a-days and what they are doing. You are out here for an hour. It doesn't seem like much. It’s a walk through situation. But you warm up for that, cool down and get started again in the afternoon,” Garrett said. “We just wanted to make sure we are careful on the two-a-days and then the consecutive two-a-days. I think the schedule sets up pretty well for him the next few days. It gives him a chance to get himself settled in. We will keep an eye on him every day."

Garrett said Romo will take all the first-team reps Saturday afternoon after essentially sitting out two practices _ Friday afternoon and Saturday morning's special teams practice.

Garrett said the Cowboys will take a similar approach with defensive tackle Henry Melton, who is coming off season ending knee surgery.

In regards to Romo, the Cowboys had no such limits on his work in camp last year when he returned to work after back surgery. Then he had a cyst removed in April of 2013 and missed the entire off-season work before coming to camp.

Romo was supposed to be ahead of schedule this year following surgery in December to repair a herniated disc. He was cleared enough to do light work in organized team activities and minicamp.

"I don't know that I'm informed enough to go into the nature of the surgeries, relative to how we are practicing him," Garrett said. "With that kind of an injury, even standing around when you have a back situation can bother you."